Device and method for forming three dimensional shape to elongated material

ABSTRACT

A device and method for forming a knot to elongated material is provided. The device includes a body, a central cavity inside the body, a material track along which the elongated material is guided in the device, the material track including opening extending along the material track and open to the central cavity. The device further includes one or more barrier elements for blocking at least part of the opening for preventing the elongated material from escaping from the material track also prevents collapsing/folding of the material to the central cavity via the opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/770,705, filed on Aug. 26, 2015, which was filed as the NationalPhase of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2014/053934 on Feb. 28,2014, which claims the benefit of priority to Finnish Application No.20135188, filed on Feb. 28, 2013, all of which are hereby expresslyincorporated by reference into the present application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for forming an elongatedmaterial. The present invention further relates to a method for formingan elongated material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Knots are usually made to elongated materials manually or with devices.Knots are conventionally used in fishing for attaching lures to fishinglines. Knots may also be used in textile applications for providingknots to yarns or in some other industrial or non-industrialapplications. Knots are also produced in medical applications inconnection with stiches, surgical operations or the like. In manysituations it may be difficult to form knots manually due to weatherconditions outside or due to other circumstances. Also some elongatedmaterials have characteristics which make forming knots very difficult,such characteristics comprising rigidity, slipperiness or small diameterof the elongated material. For alleviating the above mentioneddifficulties there are different kinds of devices for making knots. Oneprior art device for forming knots is described in International PatentApplication having publication number WO 2007/063175 A1 and publishedJun. 7, 2007.

The prior art devices for forming a knot comprise a body, a centralcavity inside the body, a material track along which the elongatedmaterial is guided in the device, the material track comprising openingextending along the material track and open to the central cavity. Thematerial track is shaped or provided such that it forms a preformed knotto the elongated material. The finished knot may be produced bytightening the preformed knot. The tightening may be carried out bypulling. For forming the knot elongated material is fed into the devicesuch that the front end of the elongated material moves through thegeometry of the material track such that the preformed knot is produced.After that the elongated material is pulled from the material track tothe central cavity though the opening of the material track. Afterreleasing the elongated material into the central cavity the preformedknot is tightened by pulling and the elongated material with the knotmay be removed from the device. The apparatus may be designed such thatthe elongated material may be attached to an object with the knot. Insome embodiments the object, such as a fishing lure, may be connected tothe device such that the device automatically attaches the elongatedmaterial to the object when the knot is formed.

In the prior art devices the elongated material travels along thematerial track when it is pushed or drawn. The material track comprisesthe opening that is open to the central cavity of the device. Thecentral cavity is provided for releasing the elongated material from thematerial track when the knot is preformed, such that the preformed knotmay be tightened to a finished knot. The material track comprises ofseveral turns and curves which the elongated material follows as ittravels through the desired geometry of the material track. In the priorart devices the elongated material follows the track during travellingbased on the internal tension of the elongated material. If the internaltension or diameter of the elongated material is not in optimal rangethe elongated material will not remain in the material track. Thereforethe elongated material may escape from the material track to the centralcavity or simply become stuck in the material track itself. If theinternal tension of the elongated material is too high or the diametertoo large, the elongated material cannot travel through the turns andcurves of the material track. If the internal tension is too low or thediameter too small, the elongated material may fold in the materialtrack preventing the elongated material to travel further in thematerial track or blocking the material track. According to the abovementioned the problem with the prior art devices is that their operationis limited to only certain types of elongated materials having certaininternal tension, diameter and material. This means that separatedevices have to be provided for different types of elongated materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a device and a methodso as to overcome or at least alleviate the above mentioned problems.The objects of the invention are achieved with a device according toclaim 1, and with a method according to claim 9.

The preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in thedependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea of guiding the elongated materialalong at least part of the blocked material track inside the device. Theguiding of the elongated material through the material track comprisesproviding the device with one or more shutter or guide elements. The oneor more guide elements may be provided in the central cavity of thedevice such that the shutter elements guide the elongated material as ittravels along the material track. The one or more shutter elements arearranged to prevent the elongated material escaping from the materialtrack to the central cavity via the opening along at least part of theopening and/or block at least part of the opening for preventing theelongated material from escaping from the material track. For releasingthe elongated material from the material track into the central cavitythe shutter elements are removed from the central cavity or they aredisplaced in the central cavity in relation to the material track, suchthat the elongated material may enter the central cavity from thematerial track. The device may also alternatively or additionally beformed such that it may be opened for removing the elongated materialfrom the material track. In one embodiment the device may be opened suchthat it may be split into at least first body part and second body partfor opening the central cavity and removing the elongated material fromthe device via the central cavity. The device and method of the presentinvention may be used for forming elongated material, such as line,fishing line, thread yarn, wire, metal wire or the like for providingthree dimensional configurations, knots, coil springs, windings or thelike.

The shutter elements, or guide means, provided to the central cavityfacilitate the travelling of the elongated material in the materialtrack and also prevents collapsing/folding of the elongated material.The one or more shutter elements may also prevent the elongated materialfrom escaping or exiting from the material track into the centralcavity. In the present invention the shutter elements block the openingof the material track to the central cavity preventing the elongatedmaterial from becoming stuck or bending against the material track.Furthermore, the shutter elements make it possible to form knots to manydifferent kinds of elongated materials. Therefore, the same devicefunctions for a wide range of elongated materials with differentdiameters, internal tensions and material properties without need formodifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention will be described in greater detail bymeans of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached[accompanying] drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of thedevice according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows another schematic perspective view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows yet another schematic perspective view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows still another schematic perspective view of the embodimentof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative detailed view of one embodiment of thematerial track and the barrier element according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative detailed view of another embodiment of thematerial track and the barrier element according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative detailed view of yet another embodiment ofthe material track and the barrier element according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows schematically one embodiment of a device for forming knotsaccording to the present invention. The device comprises a body formedfrom a first body part 2 and second body part 4. The body 2, 4 forms aclosed structure. The device or at least the body of the device isarranged to be split such that the body may be opened. In the embodimentof FIG. 1 the body is split to the first and second body parts 2, 4 suchthat the device or body may be opened. The first and second body part 2,4 are connected to each other with a hinge arrangement 6, 7 such thatthe first and second body part 2, 4 bay be moved in relation to eachother. The hinge arrangement comprises a first hinge part 6 provided tothe first body part 2 and a second hinge part 7 provided to the secondbody part 4 and also a hinge pin (not shown) for connecting the hingeparts 6, 7 pivotally together. It should be noted that the body parts 2,4 may also be totally separable from each other without any hingearrangement. Furthermore, the body parts 2, 4 may also be separablethrough a linear movement. In this case the body parts may be totallyseparable or they may be connected to each other for example with aconnection bar allowing the linear movement. The body or the device mayalso be split into three or more body parts, thus not restricting theinvention to any configuration of opening the device or the body. Thebody parts may be secured to each other with a locking mechanism or forexample with a mortise joint or some other suitable means. In analternative embodiment the device or the body of the device is oneintegral unit which may not be opened or split.

The device or the body 2, 4 of the device is at least partly hollow orcomprises a cavity, meaning that the closed structure of the body 2, 4,or body parts, encloses a hollow cavity inside the body 2, 4. In theembodiment of FIG. 1 the device or the body 2, 4 comprises a centralcavity 11, 13. In this embodiment the body 2, 4 comprises hollow centralcore provided with the central cavity 11, 13. The central cavity 11, 13may be substantially cylindrical or conical or otherwise shaped hollowspace. The present invention is not restricted to any certain shape ofthe central cavity 11, 13. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the centralcavity 11, 13 is formed by the first and second body parts 2, 4 whenthey are arranged in closed state against each other. In the embodimentof FIG. 1 the first and second body parts 2, 4 are substantially similarsuch that each of them form substantially half of the central cavity 11,13. In an alternative embodiment the first and second body parts 2, 4may form different kind of sections of the central cavity.

The device or the body 2, 4 of the device is further provided with amaterial track 3, 5 along which elongated material travels inside thedevice for forming a knot. The material track comprises an inlet opening40 through which the elongated material is fed to the material track 3,5. The material track also comprises an outlet opening 41 through whichthe elongated material exits the material track 3, 5, or the device orbody 2, 4 of the device. The elongated material is fed to the materialtrack through the inlet opening 40 and it travels along the materialtrack 3, 5 to the outlet opening 41 through the certain geometry definedby the material track 3, 5. The geometry of the material track 3, 5 isformed such that the elongated material forms a preformed knot oralternative three dimensional shape when it is fed through the materialtrack 3, 5. The material track 3, 5 shown in FIG. 1 is one example ofgeometry for providing a knot and it should be noted that the geometryof the material rack 3, 5 may vary in different applications forproducing different kinds of knots. Thus the present invention is notrestricted to any particular geometry of the material track 3, 5 or anyparticular type of knot or three dimensional shape.

The material track 3, 5 is at least partly formed as a groovesurrounding the central cavity 11, 13 and provided to the inner wall ofthe central cavity 11, 13. At least part of the material track 3, 5 isformed to the inner wall of the central cavity 11, 13, as shown in FIG.2. In other words the material track comprises an opening 32 extendingalong at least part of the material track 3, 5 and open to the centralcavity 11, 13. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the material track 3, 5forms loops around the central cavity 11, 13 for forming the knot. Theopening 32 may extend along the whole material track 3, 5, oralternatively along only part of the material track 3, 5.

The device further comprises a feed mechanism for feeding the elongatedmaterial into the device and to the material track 3, 5 and furtherthrough the material track 3, 5. The front end of the elongated materialis fed along and through the material track 3, 5 such that the geometryof the material track 3, 5 forms the preformed knot. The feed mechanismcomprises of the embodiment of FIG. 2 comprises feed roll 10 having arotation axis 12. The feed roll 10 may be driven manually, with electricmotor or some other kinds of rotation means by driving the rotation axis12. In this embodiment the feed roll 12 is provided to the fist bodypart 2. The feed roll 10 may also be provided to the second body part 4.The feed mechanism may further comprise gear wheel or some other powertransmission means for rotating the central axis 12 and further the feedroll 10. As shown in FIG. 1 the feed roll 10 extends substantiallythrough the whole central cavity 11, 13 in transversal direction inrelation to the material track 3, 5 such that the same feed roll 10 maybe used for feeding the elongated material in several locations alongthe material track 3, 5. This means that the feed roll 10 intersects thematerial track 3, 5 at least in two different locations for enhancingthe feeding of the elongated material through the material track 11, 13.However it should be noted that the feed roll 10 may also be provided asa short roll which provides only one contact point with the elongatedmaterial at the inlet opening or in the vicinity thereof. The feedmechanism is further provided with a counter surface provided atdistance from the feed roll 10. The elongated material is fed such thatit is pressed against the feed roll 10 and the counter surface in thegap between the feed roll 10 and the counter surface. The feed roll 10and the counter surface may also be in contact with each other and theelongated material is fed through between them. The feed mechanism maybe arranged to either push or pull the elongated material through thematerial track 3, 5. Furthermore, it should be noted that the feedmechanism may be any kind of feed mechanism and the present invention isnot restricted to any kind of feed mechanism.

The device further comprises a connection point 20, 21 for attaching anobject, such as a fishing lure, to the elongated material. A connectionloop or the like of the object is placed or installed to the connectionpoint 20, 21 for attaching the elongated material to the object with theformed knot. The material track 3, 5 is formed such that it leads theelongated material through the connection loop of the object in theconnection point 20, 21 when the elongated material is fed through thematerial track 3, 5. The connection point 20, 21 is preferably providedsuch that the object may be secured to the connection point 20, 21 withthe connection loop.

The device of the present invention further comprises one or more guideelements, or shutter elements, which may be arranged in the centralcavity 11, 13 for guiding the elongated material along at least part ofthe material track 3, 5 and preventing the elongated material escapingfrom the material track 3, 5 to the central cavity 13, 15 via theopening 32.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 the shutter element is provided in theform of core element 8 arranged inside the central cavity 11, 13. Asshown in the figures the core element 8 is connected to the first andsecond body part 2, 4 via the hinge arrangement 6, 7. The feed roll 10may also be provided to the core element 8. In other words the coreelement 8 is directly connected to the hinge arrangement 6, 7 such thatthe first and second body parts 2, 4 may be moved away from the coreelement 8 when the device is opened. Thus the core element 8 moves inrelation to the first and second body part 2, 4 when the device isopened and closed. In the closed state of the device the body parts 2, 4surround the core element 8 and the core element 8 fills at least partof the central cavity 11, 13. The outer surface of the core element 8may be formed to at least partly substantially conform the shape of theinner wall of the central cavity 11, 13. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to4 the core element 8 is provided as substantially solid element, but itmay also be at least partly hollow. Accordingly, the core element 8prevents the elongated material escaping from the material track 3, 5and thus closes opening 32 of the material track 3, 5 such thatelongated material cannot exit the material tarck 3, 5 via the opening32.

In an alternative embodiment the core element 8 may be directlyconnected to both or one of the body parts 2, 4 and not to the hingearrangement 6, 7. Furthermore, the core element 8 may also be a totallyseparate element or elements which are removed from the device when itis opened. Alternatively the core element may be removed from the devicewhen the device is in closed state, for example by pushing or pullingthe core element(s) 8 out of the central cavity 11, 13. In thisembodiment the device does not need to be formed to be opened. In a yetalternative embodiment the core element 8 may be provided displaceablein the central cavity 11, 13. The shutter elements may also be providedas some other kind of elements instead of the core elements. The shutterelements may for example be a shutter sleeve or sleeves arranged insidethe central cavity 11, 13 or shutter flanges, nails or fingers extendingfrom the body parts 2, 4. They could also be flanges/fingers separatefrom the body parts like pins or needles put in to place through thebody parts. It should noted that the shutter elements are provided intothe central cavity 11, 13 of the device when the device is in closedstate, but the shutter elements may be implemented and formed in manydifferent ways and the core element 8 and the shutter flanges are onlyexemplary embodiments. One alternative is a tube or straw which isintroduced into the material track together with or separately from theelongated material and the elongated material is guided through the tubeor straw. The tube or straw is thus arranged to prevent the elongatedmaterial escaping from the material track 3, 5 into the central cavity11, 13. The tube or straw is made to be removed from the material track3, 5 or to tear or rupture along the length of it such that elongatedmaterial may enter the central cavity 11, 13.

The shutter elements 8 are arranged to be positioned in vicinity or onor over the opening 32 of the material track 3, 5 such that theysubstantially block or close the opening 32 of the material track 3, 5along at least part of the length of the material track 3, 5. Theshutter elements 8 are arranged to prevent the elongated materialescaping from the material track 3, 5 to the central cavity 11, 13 viathe opening 32 along at least part of the opening. The shutter elements8 further or alternatively are arranged to block at least part of theopening for preventing the elongated material from escaping from thematerial track 3, 5 to the central cavity 11, 13 via the opening 32along at least part of the opening 32. This means that elongatedmaterial cannot exit the material track even when it is pulled or pusheduntil the opening 32 is opened by removing or dislocating shutterelements. When the shutter elements 8 are located to close at least partof the opening of the material track 3, 5 the elongated material may besupported against the shutter elements 8 as it travels in the materialtrack 3, 5 and the shutter elements 8 thus guide the elongated materialin the material track 3, 5 facilitating the feeding of the elongatedmaterial. The one or more shutter elements 8 are arranged to be removedfrom the central cavity 11, 13 or to be displaced in the central cavity11, 13 for unblocking or opening the opening 32 of the material track 3,5 and further allowing the elongated material to be released from thematerial track 3, 5 into the central cavity 11, 13. Thus the shutterelements 8 may be used for unblocking and blocking or closing theopening 32 of the material track 3, 5.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 the device can be opened or may beopened for removing the elongated material from the device via thecentral cavity 11, 13, such that opening the device moves the coreelement 8 in relation to the material track 3, 5 enabling the release ofthe elongated material from the material track 3, 5 as the core element8 moves away from the opening of the material track 3, 5. Particularlythe body 2, 4 of the device is formed to be split into at least firstbody part 2 and second body part 4 for opening the central cavity 11, 13and removing the elongated material from the device via the centralcavity 11, 13.

The shutter elements of the present invention may further compriseguiding means in order to guide the elongated material in the materialtrack 3, 5 during the formation of the knot. The guiding means arepreferably arranged to facilitate the travel of the elongated materialin the material track 3, 5 and enabling different kinds of elongatedmaterials to the used in connection the device. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 to 4, the core element 8 is provided with one or more guidinggrooves 9 for guiding the elongated material as it travels along thematerial track 3, 5. The guiding grooves 9 may be arranged to be placedopposite the opening 32 grooves of the material track 3, 5 such that theguiding grooves 9 form part of the material track 3, 5. The guidinggrooves 9 facilitate the travelling of the elongated material andprevent the elongated material from getting stuck in the material track3, 5 and from exiting the material track 3, 5 during forming the knot.The guiding grooves 9 may extend only locally, as shown in FIG. 4, orthey may extend around the whole core element 8.

The guide means of the guide elements may also comprise one or moreguide rolls 14 for guiding the elongated material in the material track3, 5. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the guide roll 14 has a central axis16 and it is arranged to rotate freely. In this embodiment the guideroll 14 forms the counter surface for the feed roll 10 and the elongatedmaterial is fed between the guide roll 14 and the feed roll 10 into thedevice by rotating the feed roll 10. The feed roll 10 and the guide roll14 together straighten the elongated material and feed it straightenedto the material track 3, 5 facilitating the travel of the elongatedmaterial along the material track 3, 5.The guide roll 14 may be extendthrough the whole central cavity 11, 13 in transversal direction inrelation to the material track 3, 5, as shown in FIG. 1. Thus the guideroll 14 may guide the elongated material in several locations along thematerial track 3, 5. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, the guide roll14 extends substantially parallel with the feed roll 10 and hassubstantially same length as the feed roll 10. Alternatively the guideroll 14 may extend only locally in the central cavity 11, 13 such thatit guides the elongated material in only one location along the materialtrack 3, 5.

The feed roll 10 and/or the guide roll 14 may also comprise grooves (notshown) on the outer surfaces for guiding the elongated material in thelocation of the rolls 10, 14 and preventing the elongated material fromescaping from the material track 3, 5 when it goes through the gapbetween the feed roll 10 and the guide roll 14. Tension may be createdbetween the feed roll 10 and the guide roll 14 which would furtherprevent the elongated material from escaping the from the material track3, 5. The tension may be created with spring arrangement or soft rollmaterials.

FIG. 5 shows the schematically cross section of the material track 5 ofthe second body part 4 of FIGS. 1 to 4 in which the elongated material30 travels in the device. The material track 5 comprises an opening 32open to the central cavity 11, 13 and thus the material track 5 isformed as a groove. The core element 8 substantially blocks at leastpart of the opening 32 along the material track 5 when the device is inclosed state. Thus the core element 8 guides the elongated material 30in the track and prevents it from escaping from the material track 5 tothe central cavity 11, 13. In this embodiment the core element 8 isformed to block the material track 3, 5 of FIGS. 1 to 4 along severalloops around the central cavity 11, 13.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment, in which the guide meanscomprises one or more guide flanges 33, 34 extending inside the centralcavity 11, 13. In this embodiment one guide flange 33, 34 is arranged toclose the material track 5 along only one loop around the central cavity11, 13. Alternatively one guide flange 33, 34 may also close two or moreloops of the material track 3, 5 around the central cavity 11, 13. Inthis embodiment the guide flanges 33, 34 may be arranged to extend fromthe body parts 2, 4 of a body that can be split or opened such that theopening 32 is unblocked during opening the central cavity 11, 13 forremoving the elongated material 30 from the device. This means that thefirst body part 2 may comprise of the first guide flanges 33, 34 and thesecond body part 4 may comprise of the second guide flanges 33, 34. Whenthe device is in closed state the first guide flanges 33, 34 close thematerial track 5 provided to the second body part 4 and the second guideflanges 33, 34 block the material track 3 provided to the first bodypart 2. Therefore, the when the device is opened the guide flanges 33,34 move away from the material track 3, 5 and the material track 3, 5 isunblocked to the central cavity 11, 13. FIG. 7 further shows anembodiment in which the shutter element comprises a movable shutter wall35 provided to the body 2, 4 and in connection of the material track 3,5 for blocking at least part of the opening 32. The shutter wall 35 maycomprise a connection part for connecting the shutter walls to theelongated material 30 such that the shutter wall 35 may be movedtogether with the elongated material 30 for blocking the opening 32during guiding the elongated material along the material track 3, 5. Thebody 2, 4 may be provided with a wall groove 36 extending along thematerial track 3, 5 in connection with the opening 32 and the shutterwall 35 is provided to move in the wall groove 36. The shutter wall isoperatively connected to the feed roll 10 such that the shutter wall 35may be moved together with the elongated material 30 for blocking theopening 32 during guiding the elongated material along the materialtrack 3, 5.

The device of the present invention provides a method for forming a knotto an elongated material. The device for forming the knot comprises abody 2, 4, a central cavity 11, 13 inside the body 2, 4, a materialtrack 3, 5 along which the elongated material 30 is guided in thedevice, the material track 3, 5 comprising opening 32 extending alongthe material track 3, 5 and open to the central cavity 11, 13. In themethod elongated material is first fed into the material track of thedevice and the elongated material 30, or at least the beginning frontend of the elongated materials moved through the material track 3, 5such that the geometry of the material track 3, 5 forms a preformed knotto the elongated material 30. When the preformed knot is formed, theelongated material is released from the material track 3, 5 into thecentral cavity 11, 13 through the opening 32 of the material track 3, 5.Then the elongated material 30 is tightened such that a finished knot isformed to the elongated material 30 from the preformed knot.

According to the present invention moving the elongated material 30further comprises guiding the elongated material 30 along at least partof the material track 3, 5 with one or more shutter elements 8, 33, 34provided into the central cavity 11, 13 and preventing the elongatedmaterial from escaping from the material track 3, 5 through the opening32 to the central cavity 11, 13 with shutter elements 8, 33, 34 duringguiding the elongated material 30 along at least part of the materialtrack 3, 5.

In one embodiment the guiding of the elongated material 30 or preventingthe elongated material escaping from the material track 3, 5 is carriedout by blocking at least part of the opening 32 of the material track 3,5. In the present invention releasing the elongated material 30 from thematerial track 3, 5 further comprises removing the one or more shutterelements 8; 33, 34 from the central cavity 11, 13 or displacing the oneor more shutter elements 8; 33, 34 in the central cavity 11, 13 forunblocking the opening 32 of the material track 3, 5 and allowing theelongated material 30 to be released from the material track 3, 5 to thecentral cavity 11, 13. Alternatively or additionally releasing theelongated material 30 from the material track 3, 5 further comprisesopening the body 2, 4 for unblocking the opening 32 of the materialtrack 3, 5 and allowing the elongated material 30 to be released fromthe material track 3, 5 in to the central cavity 11, 13. When theshutter elements 8, 33, 34 are removed or displaced in relation to thematerial track such that the opening 32 is unblocked, the elongatedmaterial 30 which is provided with the preformed knot may be released tothe central cavity 11, 13 and the elongated material 30 and thepreformed knot may be further tightened for tightening and formingfinished knot.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as thetechnology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in variousways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examplesdescribed above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

1. A device for forming a three dimensional shape to elongated material,the device comprising a body defining a central cavity inside the body,the central cavity having an inner wall, and a material track alongwhich the elongated material is guided in the device, the material trackbeing provided to the inner wall of the central cavity and comprising anopening extending along the material track and open to the centralcavity, and one or more shutter elements arranged to prevent theelongated material escaping from the material track to the centralcavity via the opening, at least one of the shutter elements comprises amovable shutter wall, a tube or a straw introduced into the materialtrack together with or separately from the elongated material forblocking at least a part of the opening during guiding the elongatedmaterial along the material track.
 2. The device according to claim 1,wherein the one or more shutter elements are arranged to be removed fromthe central cavity, or to be displaced in the central cavity forallowing the elongated material to be released from the material track,or that the one or more shutter elements are arranged to be moved inrelation to the body for allowing the elongated material to be releasedfrom the material track.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein thedevice is formed to be opened for removing the elongated material fromthe device via the central cavity.
 4. The device according to claim 3,wherein the body is formed to be split into at least first body part andsecond body part for opening the central cavity and removing theelongated material (30) from the device via the central cavity.
 5. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the shutter element is formed as acore element provide inside the central cavity.
 6. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein the shutter wall comprises a connection part forconnecting the shutter wall to the elongated material such that theshutter wall may be moved together with the elongated material forblocking the opening (32) during guiding the elongated material alongthe material track.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein thedevice further comprises a feed roll arranged to be rotated for movingthe elongated material in the material track, the shutter wall isoperatively connected to the feed roll such that the shutter wall may bemoved together with the elongated material for blocking the openingduring guiding the elongated material along the material track.
 8. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the the elongated material isguided through the tube or straw.
 9. A method for forming a threedimensional shape to elongated material with a device comprising a bodydefining a central cavity inside the body, the central cavity having aninner wall, and a material track along which the elongated material isguided in the device, the material track being provided to the innerwall of the central cavity and comprising an opening extending along thematerial track and open to the central cavity, the method comprising:feeding elongated material into the material track by providing amovable shutter wall, a tube or a straw into the material track togetherwith or separately from the elongated material for preventing theelongated material from escaping from the material track through theopening to the central cavity during guiding the elongated materialalong at least part of the material track; moving the elongated materialthrough the material track; and releasing the elongated material fromthe material track into the central cavity.
 10. The method according toclaim 9, comprising connecting the shutter wall to the elongatedmaterial, and moving the shutter wall together with the elongatedmaterial for blocking the opening.
 11. The method according to claim 9,comprising guiding the elongated material through the tube or straw. 12.The method according to claim 11, comprising removing the tube or strawfrom the material track such that the elongated material may enter thecentral cavity.
 13. The method according to claim 11, comprising tearingor rupturing the tuber or straw along the length of it such that theelongated material may enter the central cavity.
 14. The deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the device is formed to be opened forremoving the elongated material from the device via the central cavity.